Renaissance Men in VeniceBy:Cari Zellmann By definition a Renaissance man is a person who is highly skilled in numerous trades, for example Leonardo da Vinci. Although he was not from Venice, he was highly skilled in art, science, architecture, and much more. The Renaissance took hold quickly in the city of Venice. One reason for this was the many busy ports. The city also grew as one of the most important ports in the world because it was a way to Europe from the East. The wealth in the city soared from the busy markets, and in return this caused the many artists satisfactory living. Both the state and religious communities sponsored massive amounts of building and decorating. The first big years for the Renaissance art in Venice were the 1500s. Clear drawing and contoured forms were emphasized. Later artists in the 16th century developed alternatives for the forms by use of gently, broadly applied brushstrokes, and warm colors. Three of the first big artists were the Bellini family, Giorgione, and Titian. The famous Bellini family members were Jacopo Bellini and his sons Gentile and Giovanni. Jacopo’s career began as the pupil of a well know artist named Gentile da Fabriano. Jacopo learned how to represent light in paint. Here he learned by studying the theory of perspective and how to add depth to his paintings. Jacopo was also a skilled portraitist. Few of his paintings have survived, but those that still exist show him to be the most advanced Venetian painter of his generation. Gentile often worked with his father and brother on altarpieces and a number of projects. In 1463, Gentile received his most important assignment—redecorating the Chamber of the Great Council in Venice. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed his work in 1577.
Giovanni began his career in his father's workshop. His religious paintings and landscapes have made him one of the greatest Venetian painters and the most famous member of the Bellini family. Giovanni revolutionized painting in Venice by adopting oil painting techniques. By applying the mixture in very thin layers, an artist could create a smooth, glassy image with a feeling of depth. The technique enabled him to experiment further with his father's specialties, light and perspective. One Example of this technique is “Coronation of the Virgin”, a famous painting by Giovanni. He also tried out new styles throughout his career. In his altarpiece for San Giobbe church in Venice he used perspective to paint his figures as if they were in a chapel of the church. Some of his other well known he portrait are “Doge Leonardo” and a later works such as “The Drunkenness of Noah”. Among Jacopo Bellini's most important works are two bound volumes of drawings. The drawings include real views of nature, objects from ancient Greece and Rome, and religious focuses. They were some of the very first well known artists from the 15th and 16th centuries. Bellini also became the master of the Venetian Art School. This school was highly selective of who could attend. After Jacopo's death, one volume went to each of his sons. The colors he used were softer; this caused his paintings to look lighter.
Giorgione came from a small off the coast of Venice. His talents for art were recognized early in life. When he was only 23, Giorgione was chosen to paint portraits of the “Doge Agostino Barbarigo” and the”condottiere” Consalvo Ferrante. In 1504 he was commissioned to paint an altarpiece in memory of another condottiere, Matteo Costanzo, in the cathedral of his native town. Giorgione died young at 30 from the plague. Two of his most famous paintings were “The Tempest” and “Adoration of the Sheppard’s”. Titian was one of the most famous Venetian artists in history. He was often credited with creating the most beautiful cities in the world. Titian was born in 1488. His interest in art was sparked early in life when he saw some of the Bellini’s family paintings. Titian studied and learned in their workshops for years. Here he learned how to paint Christian pictures such as Annunciation, The nativity, and The Crucifixion. Titian used the newer oil paint techniques to get rich creamy highlights, deep dark tones, and delicate modeling. He often showed interest in portraying human figures. One of his most famous paintings is the “Virgin and Child”. Andrea Mantegna was Italian painter and engraver. He was the pupil and adopted son of Squarcione in Padua. Mantegna's life long passion for art was fofiled at an early age. At the age of 17 Mantegna ended him apprenticeship and began life as an artist on his own. One of his first well known projects was the “St. James Led to Execution”. Mantegna showed his skills in perspective and steep foreshortening by painting the image with a low viewpoint of the spectator standing. Mantegna's understanding of anatomy are made know in the influences of Donatello. in the chapel another famous painter. But unlike Giovanni, his paintings were hard edged, rough, and not so concerned with color or light. Other important artists of the time were El Greco and Durer. Artisan guilds were another important part of the Renaissance art. These guilds ensured the quality of the artwork, along with the prices of the products, and they also controlled who could and couldn’t sell at their markets. These guilds were made up of talented artists all of whom are specialized in that specific trade. After training as an apprentice for many years, the guild votes on whether or not the artist is good enough to join the guild. Therefore the guilds are composed of highly talented and knowledgeable of their trade. These guilds were also divided into specific arts such as wood carvings, sculptures, and paintings. Thanks to the Renaissance architecture Venice is full of beautiful palaces and official buildings. In the Venetian style, the buildings were often made based on ideal balance and proportion. This was intended to create a harmonious feeling to the city. Many buildings of the age look like a kind of “Golden Age” of the Ancients. These structures were embellished with Mannerist and Baroqure flourishes, this created the historical look that captures the city Another form of Renaissance architecture is the Venetian Gothic architecture. This style was a combination of Gothic lancet arches with Byzantine and Arab influences. This form originated in the 14th century and was revived in the 19th century. Two examples are the Doge’s palace and Ca’d Oro. The Venetian Navy also had a great significance in the Renaissance era. After gaining control of the Adriatic sea, Venice established ports and soon became a staging area for the Crusades. Marco Polo also opened a trade route between Europe and the Far East around the same time. Venice soon took control of many other trade routes in the Mediterranean. The city’s powerful Navy caused Venice great success, and in return they maintained hundreds of merchant’s ships, warships, and thousands of sailors. The city of Venice was filled with art and architecture from the Renaissance time. Venice experienced great economic success from the many busy ports. This in turn funded much of the building and painters throughout the time.
By definition a Renaissance man is a person who is highly skilled in numerous trades, for example Leonardo da Vinci. Although he was not from Venice, he was highly skilled in art, science, architecture, and much more.
The Renaissance took hold quickly in the city of Venice. One reason for this was the many busy ports. The city also grew as one of the most important ports in the world because it was a way to Europe from the East. The wealth in the city soared from the busy markets, and in return this caused the many artists satisfactory living. Both the state and religious communities sponsored massive amounts of building and decorating.
The first big years for the Renaissance art in Venice were the 1500s. Clear drawing and contoured forms were emphasized. Later artists in the 16th century developed alternatives for the forms by use of gently, broadly applied brushstrokes, and warm colors.
Three of the first big artists were the Bellini family, Giorgione, and Titian. The famous Bellini family members were Jacopo Bellini and his sons Gentile and Giovanni. Jacopo’s career began as the pupil of a well know artist named Gentile da Fabriano. Jacopo learned how to represent light in paint. Here he learned by studying the theory of perspective and how to add depth to his paintings. Jacopo was also a skilled portraitist. Few of his paintings have survived, but those that still exist show him to be the most advanced Venetian painter of his generation.
Gentile often worked with his father and brother on altarpieces and a number of projects. In 1463, Gentile received his most important assignment—redecorating the Chamber of the Great Council in Venice. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed his work in 1577.
Giovanni began his career in his father's workshop. His religious paintings and landscapes have made him one of the greatest Venetian painters and the most famous member of the Bellini family.
Giovanni revolutionized painting in Venice by adopting oil painting techniques. By applying the mixture in very thin layers, an artist could create a smooth, glassy image with a feeling of depth. The technique enabled him to experiment further with his father's specialties, light and perspective. One Example of this technique is “Coronation of the Virgin”, a famous painting by Giovanni. He also tried out new styles throughout his career. In his altarpiece for San Giobbe church in Venice he used perspective to paint his figures as if they were in a chapel of the church. Some of his other well known he portrait are “Doge Leonardo” and a later works such as “The Drunkenness of Noah”.
Among Jacopo Bellini's most important works are two bound volumes of drawings. The drawings include real views of nature, objects from ancient Greece and Rome, and religious focuses. They were some of the very first well known artists from the 15th and 16th centuries. Bellini also became the master of the Venetian Art School. This school was highly selective of who could attend. After Jacopo's death, one volume went to each of his sons.
The colors he used were softer; this caused his paintings to look lighter.
Giorgione came from a small off the coast of Venice. His talents for art were recognized early in life. When he was only 23, Giorgione was chosen to paint portraits of the “Doge Agostino Barbarigo” and the”condottiere” Consalvo Ferrante. In 1504 he was commissioned to paint an altarpiece in memory of another condottiere, Matteo Costanzo, in the cathedral of his native town. Giorgione died young at 30 from the plague. Two of his most famous paintings were “The Tempest” and “Adoration of the Sheppard’s”.
Titian was one of the most famous Venetian artists in history. He was often credited with creating the most beautiful cities in the world. Titian was born in 1488. His interest in art was sparked early in life when he saw some of the Bellini’s family paintings. Titian studied and learned in their workshops for years. Here he learned how to paint Christian pictures such as Annunciation, The nativity, and The Crucifixion. Titian used the newer oil paint techniques to get rich creamy highlights, deep dark tones, and delicate modeling. He often showed interest in portraying human figures. One of his most famous paintings is the “Virgin and Child”.
Andrea Mantegna was Italian painter and engraver. He was the pupil and adopted son of Squarcione in Padua. Mantegna's life long passion for art was fofiled at an early age. At the age of 17 Mantegna ended him apprenticeship and began life as an artist on his own. One of his first well known projects was the “St. James Led to Execution”. Mantegna showed his skills in perspective and steep foreshortening by painting the image with a low viewpoint of the spectator standing. Mantegna's understanding of anatomy are made know in the influences of Donatello. in the chapel another famous painter. But unlike Giovanni, his paintings were hard edged, rough, and not so concerned with color or light. Other important artists of the time were El Greco and Durer.
Artisan guilds were another important part of the Renaissance art. These guilds ensured the quality of the artwork, along with the prices of the products, and they also controlled who could and couldn’t sell at their markets. These guilds were made up of talented artists all of whom are specialized in that specific trade. After training as an apprentice for many years, the guild votes on whether or not the artist is good enough to join the guild. Therefore the guilds are composed of highly talented and knowledgeable of their trade. These guilds were also divided into specific arts such as wood carvings, sculptures, and paintings.
Thanks to the Renaissance architecture Venice is full of beautiful palaces and official buildings. In the Venetian style, the buildings were often made based on ideal balance and proportion. This was intended to create a harmonious feeling to the city. Many buildings of the age look like a kind of “Golden Age” of the Ancients. These structures were embellished with Mannerist and Baroqure flourishes, this created the historical look that captures the city
Another form of Renaissance architecture is the Venetian Gothic architecture. This style was a combination of Gothic lancet arches with Byzantine and Arab influences. This form originated in the 14th century and was revived in the 19th century. Two examples are the Doge’s palace and Ca’d Oro.
The Venetian Navy also had a great significance in the Renaissance era. After gaining control of the Adriatic sea, Venice established ports and soon became a staging area for the Crusades. Marco Polo also opened a trade route between Europe and the Far East around the same time. Venice soon took control of many other trade routes in the Mediterranean. The city’s powerful Navy caused Venice great success, and in return they maintained hundreds of merchant’s ships, warships, and thousands of sailors.
The city of Venice was filled with art and architecture from the Renaissance time. Venice experienced great economic success from the many busy ports. This in turn funded much of the building and painters throughout the time.
Renaissance Venice
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